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Wednesday, 2 January 2019

Storing your gardening tools

Good tools are the key to a good garden and
any keen gardener will know they make your life so much easier when they are
well maintained. Great tools are an investment worth making as we are rewarded
with beautiful gardens, but in order to get the most out of your tools it is
incredibly important to take great care of them and this includes storing them
correctly. It not only makes your life so much easier but also extends the
lifespan of your tools. Prior to storing your tools, they need to be cleaned
and sharpened in order to last longer and perform better. Once this is done it
is important to consider the best storage option for you such as location and
organisation. The best option for tool storage can vary depending on the type
of tools. Correct tool storage is valuable all year round but even more so in
winter as they are typically being stored for longer.

Small
and Manual tools

Thankfully, the easiest to clean tools are
the smallest and most often used, such as pruning shears. It is important to
maintain clean, sharp and rust-free tools in order to make your life easier and
ensure you get the most out of your time and tools. Before storing your tools
make sure they have been properly oiled and lubricated as this will ensure they
stay rust free and it will extend their life. Another way to ensure you keep
your tools rust free is to keep them in a bucket of sand, soaked in oil. This
keeps rot and rust away from them. One key thing to note when storing your
gardening tools is that you should keep them in a dry environment, the enemy of
gardening tools is damp. It is important to make sure you are keeping heat and
humidity away from your tools. The smallest tools can be kept in a box if you
would prefer however an excellent way to store your tools is on a toolboard on
the wall of a garage or outbuilding. It makes them easily accessible, saves
space, avoids rust and keeps them off the ground where they are less likely to
come into contact with damp. It can also make for an aesthetically pleasing
garage if that is what you are after. Organising
your garage can save time and effort whilst keeping everything
looking tidy. It means everything is kept in one place, you can even arrange
things like gloves to be close at hand so that you are ready to go as quick as
possible.

Power
Tools

Power tools are arguably the hardest ones
to maintain, luckily they are usually used least often. When preparing your
power tools for storage, the first step is to, obviously, unplug them. Once
they are unplugged you can easily dismantle them and clean, oil and lubricate
the individual parts accordingly. The best way to store power tools is in their
respective cases, if this is possible. This prevents any confusion and tangling
of wires. Storing your power tools individually means easy access and that
there’s no challenge of sorting through a mess of wires. Storing them in their
cases means they are protected from any accidental damage.

Winter
Storage

Correct storage of your tools is important
all year round but especially in winter as this is usually when your tools are
stored for the longest time. It is particularly important to clean and oil your
tools for this reason as if they are not cared for properly prior to storage
they are less likely to survive the winter. In the winter, frost is a big
threat to both gardens and gardening tools. Therefore, it is important to make
sure that, wherever they are kept, they are kept protect from the wet and
frost.

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About

The Diligent Gardener is an online gardening magazine based in the UK for keen gardeners. Whether you’ve got a garden, allotment, or balcony, you’ll find all the gardening ideas and advice you need to create a beautiful and truly satisfying private space to relax and be at home in. As well as tips and ideas for your own garden we can share with you the best days out and competitions.